Please find a comprehensive list of countries that provide tax
incentives for companies that wish to locate in their domain.  The
more details the better and multiple sources of this information is
required.  In addition, if possible we would like a list of the best
law firms that specialize in offshore setup.  By best we mean law
firms that are recognized within their own industry and being the top
in the field.  I would assume you would find this in various articles
within law trade magazines or online publications that specialize in
international corporate tax law.  Thanks in advance and please reply
with questions.

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Clarification of Question by businessken-ga on 08 Aug 2005 10:51 PDT

Well I agree it is broad however I also believe there is information
on the internet that lists low/no tax countries and some details.  So
while you make sense my initial research is broad in nature on purpose
and designed to educate us prior to finding a law firm to assist. 
Therefore all the items you mention are what we are looking for
actually.  A resource tool that will allow us to slim down the list of
candidate countries.  We have had problems already with law firms
steering us in the wrong direction simply becuase they understood a
certain area better than another.  Please confirm you understand
thanks.

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Clarification of Question by businessken-ga on 09 Aug 2005 06:52 PDT

Thanks so much for your insight.  I understand that the questions I am
asking are general in nature.  Basically the job is below:

Please find me a list of the top (recognized top) 10 law firms that
specialize in International Corporate setup.

Please find me a resource(s) (I will pay for it no problem) that list
countries that have tax and asset protection advantages and the
details of each country.

It seems that this research is more detailed than the norm.  Can I pay
more?  even more than $200 or whatever is fine with me if these two
items are done.

Thanks.

---

Clarification of Question by businessken-ga on 09 Aug 2005 21:41 PDT

I will have one of my staff handle then thanks.

If you find the right law firm, it will be able to advise you on the
first part of your question.
Tax incentives for locating are probably only part of your interest in
choosing the country: market, staff qualification, employment laws and
expense, language facility, whether the country should be a member of
the European Union, ...

I expect that you understood this, but just phrased the question more
broadly than you realized.  Perhaps you can add a clarification that
helps narrow the field.
Myoarin

Yes, I do understand, and I can commiserate with your experience with
people who wanted to steer you in the direction of their own
expertise.  And I believe that I recognize that you feel you cannot
reveal here anything about the company's activity.
However, if they were steering you in the wrong direction, then you do
have a good idea of where you don't want to go: geographically, or for
other factors.

The major accounting firms may have much information that could be of
interest.  Here is the site from Deloite, for example:

http://www.deloitte.com/dtt/section_node/0,1042,sid%253D11410,00.html

and here a site for Russia by Ernst & Young and E&Y's home page:

http://www.ey.com/global/content.nsf/Russia_E/Tax_-_Overview

http://www.ey.com/global/content.nsf/International/Home

and here another overview:

http://www.competitivealternatives.com/highlights/default.asp 

and here from KPMG with many links and from KPMG Hongkong:

http://taxtopics.net/foreign.htm

http://www.kpmg.com.hk/en/virtual_library/Tax/publications.html

This, at least, suggeests the type of information available, which may
also help a GA Researcher pursue the question further.

This is a free comment and not an official answer to your question,
but I will be pleased to try to help.
Myoarin

Businessken,
I am a little diffident about trying to help you further, due to my
lack of expertise, and also because I don't want to upset you with my
closing remarks, which may sound critical but are well-meant.

First, here are two sites with listings of the largest law firms.  The
first one is from the National Law Journal, which offers various other
information.  On the list on the second site, you can click on the
names and access their own websites.

http://www.law.com/jsp/nlj/PubArticleNLJ.jsp?id=1069170401903

http://www.consultwebs.com/largest_law_firms.htm

I still think accounting firms might present more directly information
that could help you, if not online then via publications, so here is a
site that provides links to the majors.  It seems to be career
oriented, so when you click on a name, you have to click on something
appropriate at the top to get other information or use search.

Now my well-intended remarks:
Law firms and accountants can do anything you ask them, for a price,
but as you have already discovered, they will have their bias, which
may not be just better expertise in a certain direction.  If they are
barking up the wrong tree, from your company's point of view, it is
because they were allowed to.
And your company may have a bias against a couple of good choices. 
Just for an example:  The newest members of the European Union still
sound like "Eastbloc" names to some people, and the thought of having
an operation in a country that was once communist may be something
management just won't accept.  On the objective basis of taxes and
cost structure, these may be very good recommendations, however.  Lots
of German companies are moving production there, and a lot of US
majors are too, or expanding to serve western Europe.
That just as an example, but what I am trying to suggest is that the
company will have to do its own homework to make a short list. 
Otherwise, accountants and/or lawyers will (can) only provide
comparative studies that may be too broad or "misdirected".
Finally, to repeat, I think accountants are closer to the subject for
making a decision.  They have the tax expertise and experience with
local accounting, and some of them do international consulting.  Yes,
lawyers will be necessary when the decision has been made, or to
cross-check before it is made.

Okay?   This is contrary to the opening sentence in my first comment,
which was only a direct response to your question and not as
considered as the above.  I am an American living in Germany and used
to be a banker, if you are wondering what background I have for my
comment.
Myoarin

Businessman,
My apologies!  I failed to add the link to the major accounting firms:

http://nyjobsource.com/accountingfirms.htm

Sorry, Myoarin